Can-opener.



R. A. RODGERS a W. R. HENDERSON. CAN OPENER. APPLmATIoN-FILBD APR.17,1908.

898,605. Patented sept. 15, 1908.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT OEEIOE.

RAYMOND A. RODGERS AND WILLIAM R. HENDERSON, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 15, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RAYMOND A. RODG- ERS and WILLIAM R. HENDERSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Steubenville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is an improved can opener that may be conveniently adjusted so as to be susceptible of use with cans of various sizes, and which is effectually retained in such adjusted position in a peculiar manner.

With this and other objects in view that will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that we shall hereinafter fully describe, and then point out the novel features thereof, in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our iniproved can opener; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof; and, Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the cutter.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing, by the same reference characters.

Our improved can opener embodies a shank 1 which is preferably square in cross section and is formed in its lower side with a series of equally spaced transverse recesses 2, and which is formed at one end with a forwardly projecting and slightly curved prong 3, and is provided at its other end with a handle 4. A cutter 5 is mounted upon the shank, and is slit to form a blade 6 which is bent to extend perpendicularly downwardly from the cutter, and the cutting edge of which is inclined and sharpened, as shown. This cutter is formed at two opposite edges with upwardly disposed parallel flanges 7 that are formed intermediate of their ends with corresponding square openings 8 which are arranged to receive the shank 1 to mount the cutter thereon for longitudinal movement between the prong 3 and the handle 4.

The cutter is designed to be adjusted upon the shank, with its flanges 7 in alineinent with any selected pair of alternate recesses, and the latter are arranged, when downward pressure is exerted upon the shank, to receive the portions of the flanges dening the lower walls of the openings 8, and thus hold the cutter securely against any accidental longitudinal movement.

In the practical use of our improved can opener, the prong 3 is punched through the top of the can in the customary manner, so as to be engaged with the same, andthe cutter 5 is then adjusted upon the shank 1 according to the size of the top of the can, with its Iianges in alinement with the required recesses 2. The downward pressure necessary to be exerted upon the handle 4 to cause the blade 6 of the cutter to penetrate the to and to hold the blade in such position whi e the shank is rotated about the prong 3 to sever the top from the can, obviously causes the required -recesses 2 to receive the portions of the flanges, to hold the cutter rigidly in position upon the shank and thus cause a clean cut.

From the above description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that we have provided a simple, durable and efficient construction of can opener which may be quickly'and conveniently adjusted for use with cans of different sizes, which may be effectually held in such adjusted position, and which consists of comparatively few parts that may be easily and cheaplymanufactured and readily assembled.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is:

1. A can opener comprising a shank formed at one end with a prong and provided at its other end with a handle, and a cutter formed with a blade and with angularly disposed flanges having openings designed to accommodate the shank to slidingly mount the cutter thereon, said shank being formed with a plurality of transverse recesses designed to receive portions of the fianges to hold the cutter in adjusted position upon the shank.

2. A can opener comprising a shank formed at one end with a prong and provided at its other end with a handle, and a cutter formed with a depending blade and with upwardly disposed flanges having openings designed to accommodate the shank to slid- In testimony whereof we aliX our signaingly mount the cutter thereon, said shank tures in presence of two witnesses.

being formed in its lower side with a plurality RAYMOND A. RODGERS. [n s] of transverse recesses arranged to receive the WILLIAM R. HENDERSON. [n s] portions of the flanges defining the lower Witnesses:

walls of the openings, as and for the purpose JAMES H. BoYL,

set forth. J oI-IN M. BIGGER. 

